Streator, Ill. – St. Mary’s Hospital and the National Consortium of Breast Centers (NCBC) is proud to announce that Sue Chalkey, RN, BSN, CDE has received the designation of Certified Breast Patient Navigator through the completion of the NCBC’s Breast Patient Navigator Certification Program. This certification program validates Chalkey’s knowledge and skills in navigating a breast patient through their breast care/cancer continuum of care. Chalkey’s choice to participate in this certification program shows her personal and professional commitment to providing quality care for her patients.

Moving a patient through his/her continuum of breast care or breast cancer care is a complex and highly individualized process. The complexity is significantly reduced with the assistance of an individual or individuals who are trained to navigate a patient through the processes of care. Most patients today realize they should follow early detection guidelines and follow-up with their care providers; however, sometimes barriers prevent individuals from following these guidelines. It is the Breast Patient Navigator who helps the patient work through, reduce or eliminate barriers to their breast care.

The certification of a Breast Patient Navigator revolves around the Breast Patient Navigation Matrix™, which directly benefits patients by equipping Breast Patient Navigators to personally guide each patient through the care of process. Patients are guided through the continuum of care, knowing how to contact the appropriate individual on staff on whom they depend for the services and support throughout their various stages of care. Patients are assisted in identifying resources available to them and are empowered to become informed participants in their breast health/cancer care program. The patient is the focus in each of the navigation stages.

Sue Chalkey is certified to navigate a patient through the breast imaging states with assistance from her facility’s integrated team members. During the breast imaging navigation stages, the Breast Patient Navigator guides the patient through the breast imaging process and ensures the patient receives timely exam results, is scheduled for appropriate follow up care or scheduled for their next routine imaging exam. Breast Cancer Patient Navigators are dedicated to saving lives by ensuring all patients who have a suspicious finding receive resolution through timely diagnosis and treatment, eliminating barriers to care, assisting with follow-up appointments and ensuring each patient efficiently moves through the care delivery system.

St. Mary’s Hospital is currently the only hospital in the Illinois Valley to offer the Breast Patient Navigator program.